If trends and history mean anything in college football, then the outlook for the Florida Gators’ offense in 2006 is promising. Florida coach Urban Meyer and his spread-offense philosophy came under fire in 2005, his first year as coach, from Gator fans who still admire Steve Spurrier’s fun-and-gun offense. But, looking at Meyer’s previous coaching stints at the University of Utah and Bowling Green State University, his teams’ offenses seemingly found their groove in their second season under Meyer. In 2001 as coach at Bowling Green, Meyer’s offense averaged 383 yards per game, which was 55th overall in the nation at the time.` Fast forward one year later and Bowling Green was the ninth-best offense in the nation, producing 449 yards of offense per game. The trend continued as Meyer became coach at Utah in 2003. In his first year in Salt Lake City, Meyer’s team produced 375 yards of offense per game. One year later the team averaged 500 offensive yards each game – a mark that was third-best in the nation. Now at Florida, Meyer is expected to resurrect an offense that ranked 61st in the nation in 2005, and he said the success of the offensive begins with quarterback Chris Leak. “Chris Leak, in my opinion, had a very good year in the spread offense,” Meyer said. “He won more games than he’s ever won. His completion percentage was higher. He threw half as many interceptions. The only just criticism of Chris right now, in my opinion, is that he has not won a championship.” At Florida’s media day, Leak affirmed his confidence in Meyer’s offense, saying the key is finding a comfort zone. “I’m very comfortable, I think the main thing I’m comfortable is because all the guys, you know, around me are more comfortable,” Leak said. “When you have your entire offense in the same system for two years, it builds a great comfort level and great confidence within your teammates.” Teams like West Virginia, Texas and Penn State use the spread offense, and each team won its respective Bowl Championship Series game this past season. In order for the spread offense to work effectively, Meyer pointed out that the team needs the right personnel on the field at the same time. “Can a spread offense work in the SEC?” Meyer said. “Absolutely, it can work. Any offense can work if it’s personnel-driven and you do a good job of matching the personnel with the scheme.” This season, Leak is not the only person adjusting to his second season in a new system. Meyer is in his second season as Florida coach and knows there are few benefits for second-year coaches. “I think the biggest advantage I have this year, in year two, is I know every one of our players,” Meyer said. “I know what they do, how they react to the tough situation and who’s the cream that is going to rise to the top when it gets hard.”
—–Contact Kyle Whitfield at [email protected]
Florida on schedule for offensive explosion
October 15, 2006